We fear noise ordinance reform

We are surprised and disappointed to hear of the ASUCD noise ordinance reform proposal that will be debate in the Community Chambers on Wednesday that will make it virtually impossible for the police to issue a noise violation citation in the city of Davis. At a time when large parties frequently become not only disruptive but dangerous to public safety, this effort to weaken protection of our neighborhoods is ill-advised.

In fact, we were disheartened to realize the lack of institutional memory of the ASUCD commission. Within recent memory, the commission has heard proposals from our neighborhood associations asking for their help in strengthening the noise ordinance and other residential protections, in order to maintain the quality of our neighborhoods and uphold the city’s policy of Davis as a designated “quiet city” (Chapter 24, noise regulations, city of Davis).

As residents of Central Davis and members of our respective neighborhood associations, we have all suffered repeatedly from loud parties. We have experienced first-hand non-compliance with present regulations and under-enforcement by the Police Department — by their own admission, only 8 percent of all noise complaints result in a citation. We believe our quality of life in Davis has already been damaged by the university’s passivity with respect to its students’ off-campus behavior. We respectfully request that you refuse any changes to the present noise ordinance, unless it is to strengthen enforcement.